The Roman Empire was a vast one, spreading as far north as the middle of Great Britain. Hadrian's Wall is the extent of the boundary into the British island. The Roman Empire was not a Christian civilization until the rule of Constantine from 306-337. The Romans began either turning existing buildings into Cathedrals or using their architecture in the building of entirely new structures. The use of concrete and Roman arches were vital in the building of Roman Cathedrals throughout Europe. To step into any of these buildings will take your breath away, the Romans were an advanced civilization and did unbelievable things with architecture.
Basilicas built by the Romans
St. Paul's Outside the Walls
Basilica of Maxentius
*Is there a difference between a Basilica and a Cathedral? Yes. A cathedral is set apart because it is the home of a Catholic Cardinal. No, those red birds can not be ordained priests.
Cathedrals built by Roman Empire
St. Peters Cathedral. Construction of St. Peters was started under Constantine
Hagia Sophia of Istanbul
Inside Hagia Sophia. Architecture is very Roman. Arches support the weight of the magnificent structure. The Dome ceilings are remarkable.
Roman Empire:
Architecture Spread to two great cities:
Trier Germany and Now Istanbul Turkey
Istanbul
Roman Aqueducts of Istanbul
Personally witnessed someone walking up the slope of this aqueduct and across the top. But no prostitutes. However, there was a major wind storm during the walk back from seeing this aqueduct which blew us away, blew over trees and a ton of dirt into our eyes. I guess the storm claimed some lives as I later saw on the news, upwards of 50 mph.
This is the Basilica Cistern built by the Romans in Instanbul. Housed the water supply for the city.
More Importantly This is the Home of Medusa!
Medusa's head is the base of two separate columns in the cistern. This one is upside down and the other is sideways. I stared at both and did not turn to stone. Maybe her eyes were closed.
The Basilica Cistern, located in the crowded Eminönü district of Istanbul next to the Hagia Sophia, was built to provide water for the city of Istanbul during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century CE. This cistern is an underground chamber of 138 x 64.6 metres. The large space is broken up by a forest of 336 marble columns, which are aesthetically supported by strong columns and arches. The ceiling vaults, known as Manastır Tonozu (cloister vault), are built without using a mould. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 3.5 meters and is coated with a special mortar to make it waterproof.
Originally, there was a stone-paved circle on the cistern. It was later broken by dense housing construction beginning in the Byzantine period continuing into the Ottoman period. The citizens who settled in the vicinity were provided with their daily water requirements from the large round well-like holes opening from the ceiling structure. In 1940, several of the structures built on and around the Basilica Cistern were nationalized and a neat building was constructed at the entrance of the Cistern by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. It was also exposed to a wide range of cleaning process between 1985-1988. Thus dirty water and tons of mud were removed and a promenade platform was built in the cistern. After the cleaning process was completed, the two Medusa heads, masterpieces of the First Age Art of Statuary were used as pedestals at the bottom of the two columns in the northwest corner of the cistern. It is not known exactly when or for what purpose the were antique Medusa and Gorgon heads were brought to the Basilica Cistern.
Another City with Kickass Roman Architecture is Trier Germany- Referred to as the first City in Germany (Old City)
The Romans built a couple awesome Basilicas/Cathedrals in Trier. Roman soldiers were believed to have carried a couple of the nails used to crucify Jesus to Trier where they are kept in vaults at one of the cathedrals to this day. One of the cathedrals was once in possession of the Shroud of Turin as well.
The "Black Gate" was built by the Romans as a port of entry to Trier. The gate was intended to separate the Roman Empire from the Goths and the Francs
Outside of Trier Cathedral
Beautiful inside of Trier Cathedral! Believed to house the Smock of Jesus and a nail used in the crucifixion. Each relic was carried to Trier by Roman soldiers. The modern cathedral was built on top of the original which the remains can still be seen in the basement.
Trier Cathedral, called Trierer Dom in German, is the main church of the city of Trier. The site of Trier Cathedral has a rich Christian history dating back to at least 270 AD, when worshippers attended what was probably the first church to have existed at this location – a house church.
In the fourth century the then ongoing persecution against Christians began to decline. With this increase in religious freedom came the opportunity to worship more openly. Thus, from 340 AD, the site of Trier Cathedral became home to a construction known as “The Square”. Some remains of this structure are still visible today, its outer walls now forming part of Trier Cathedral.
This predecessor of Trier Cathedral was destroyed in the fifth and ninth centuries, respectively by Germanic and Viking tribes. Most of the current Trier Cathedral dates back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when a Romanesque church was built. It has also been remodelled and altered at various stages, including in a Baroque style in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Few remnants of the original Ancient Roman church are viewable today in the church itself, however there are extensive underground excavations which can be seen as part of a guided tour (book in advance on the official site). Along with these underground remains, a section of the original Roman walls surives in the main structure, rising to a height of almost 30 metres. A few additional Roman elements and columns are visible and the rest of Trier Cathedral – which appears seemingly more like a citadel than a house of worship – beautifully preserves the medieval history of this site.
Trier Cathedral is also the home of the Holy Tunic, a robe which is said to have been worn by Jesus when he died, however this is rarely exhibited.
Roman and Romanesque Cathedrals
The Roman Empire was a vast one, spreading as far north as the middle of Great Britain. Hadrian's Wall is the extent of the boundary into the British island. The Roman Empire was not a Christian civilization until the rule of Constantine from 306-337. The Romans began either turning existing buildings into Cathedrals or using their architecture in the building of entirely new structures. The use of concrete and Roman arches were vital in the building of Roman Cathedrals throughout Europe. To step into any of these buildings will take your breath away, the Romans were an advanced civilization and did unbelievable things with architecture.
Basilicas built by the Romans
St. Paul's Outside the Walls
Basilica of Maxentius
*Is there a difference between a Basilica and a Cathedral? Yes. A cathedral is set apart because it is the home of a Catholic Cardinal. No, those red birds can not be ordained priests.
Cathedrals built by Roman Empire
Hagia Sophia of Istanbul
Inside Hagia Sophia. Architecture is very Roman. Arches support the weight of the magnificent structure. The Dome ceilings are remarkable.
Roman Empire:
Architecture Spread to two great cities:
Trier Germany and Now Istanbul Turkey
Istanbul
Roman Aqueducts of Istanbul
This is the Basilica Cistern built by the Romans in Instanbul. Housed the water supply for the city.
More Importantly This is the Home of Medusa!
Medusa's head is the base of two separate columns in the cistern. This one is upside down and the other is sideways. I stared at both and did not turn to stone. Maybe her eyes were closed.
The Basilica Cistern, located in the crowded Eminönü district of Istanbul next to the Hagia Sophia, was built to provide water for the city of Istanbul during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century CE. This cistern is an underground chamber of 138 x 64.6 metres. The large space is broken up by a forest of 336 marble columns, which are aesthetically supported by strong columns and arches. The ceiling vaults, known as Manastır Tonozu (cloister vault), are built without using a mould. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 3.5 meters and is coated with a special mortar to make it waterproof.
Originally, there was a stone-paved circle on the cistern. It was later broken by dense housing construction beginning in the Byzantine period continuing into the Ottoman period. The citizens who settled in the vicinity were provided with their daily water requirements from the large round well-like holes opening from the ceiling structure. In 1940, several of the structures built on and around the Basilica Cistern were nationalized and a neat building was constructed at the entrance of the Cistern by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. It was also exposed to a wide range of cleaning process between 1985-1988. Thus dirty water and tons of mud were removed and a promenade platform was built in the cistern. After the cleaning process was completed, the two Medusa heads, masterpieces of the First Age Art of Statuary were used as pedestals at the bottom of the two columns in the northwest corner of the cistern. It is not known exactly when or for what purpose the were antique Medusa and Gorgon heads were brought to the Basilica Cistern.
Another City with Kickass Roman Architecture is Trier Germany- Referred to as the first City in Germany (Old City)
The Romans built a couple awesome Basilicas/Cathedrals in Trier. Roman soldiers were believed to have carried a couple of the nails used to crucify Jesus to Trier where they are kept in vaults at one of the cathedrals to this day. One of the cathedrals was once in possession of the Shroud of Turin as well.
The "Black Gate" was built by the Romans as a port of entry to Trier. The gate was intended to separate the Roman Empire from the Goths and the Francs
Outside of Trier Cathedral
Beautiful inside of Trier Cathedral! Believed to house the Smock of Jesus and a nail used in the crucifixion. Each relic was carried to Trier by Roman soldiers. The modern cathedral was built on top of the original which the remains can still be seen in the basement.
Trier Cathedral, called Trierer Dom in German, is the main church of the city of Trier. The site of Trier Cathedral has a rich Christian history dating back to at least 270 AD, when worshippers attended what was probably the first church to have existed at this location – a house church.
In the fourth century the then ongoing persecution against Christians began to decline. With this increase in religious freedom came the opportunity to worship more openly. Thus, from 340 AD, the site of Trier Cathedral became home to a construction known as “The Square”. Some remains of this structure are still visible today, its outer walls now forming part of Trier Cathedral.
This predecessor of Trier Cathedral was destroyed in the fifth and ninth centuries, respectively by Germanic and Viking tribes. Most of the current Trier Cathedral dates back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when a Romanesque church was built. It has also been remodelled and altered at various stages, including in a Baroque style in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Few remnants of the original Ancient Roman church are viewable today in the church itself, however there are extensive underground excavations which can be seen as part of a guided tour (book in advance on the official site). Along with these underground remains, a section of the original Roman walls surives in the main structure, rising to a height of almost 30 metres. A few additional Roman elements and columns are visible and the rest of Trier Cathedral – which appears seemingly more like a citadel than a house of worship – beautifully preserves the medieval history of this site.
Trier Cathedral is also the home of the Holy Tunic, a robe which is said to have been worn by Jesus when he died, however this is rarely exhibited.